Fisheries need foreign experts

UNTIL Namibians become skilled enough to work in all levels of the fishing industry, there will have to be foreign expertise to do the job, Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo said at Walvis Bay on Friday.

He said there was extensive debate about the employment of foreigners in the local fishing industry, but the reason for them being employed was that Namibians lacked the expertise to fill the specific positions. Iyambo said it was hoped that Namibia would be able to fill all these positions with Namibians by the year 2030.The Minister called on fishing companies to offer training programmes for Namibians.He said it was distressing to see that there were qualified Namibians without jobs because the available positions were specialised and beyond the scope of their qualifications.”Expatriates may be used if Namibians can’t be found to do the job; but in the end Namibians would have to be able to replace them when they become qualified,” he said.Iyambo said it was hoped that Namibia would be able to fill all these positions with Namibians by the year 2030.The Minister called on fishing companies to offer training programmes for Namibians.He said it was distressing to see that there were qualified Namibians without jobs because the available positions were specialised and beyond the scope of their qualifications.”Expatriates may be used if Namibians can’t be found to do the job; but in the end Namibians would have to be able to replace them when they become qualified,” he said.